A coroner hit out after six witnesses failed to turn up for an inquest into the death of a teenager at the wheel of a car.

Robert Bates, 17, of Blyth, Northumberland, died after his Ford Fiesta hit a bus stop in his home town in June last year.

Coroner Eric Armstrong adjourned an inquest at Bedlington Law Courts after consulting with Robert's parents Ian and Vicky, who attended.

He said: "We hoped to bring the inquest to a conclusion this morning but unfortunately most of the civilian witnesses have not turned up.

"One taxi driver has turned up but all of the other civilian witnesses in the case either cannot be traced or have been traced and have not come.

"The family have decided they would like the opportunity to ask questions and I am adjourning the case for issue of summons.

"It is distressing that a group of young people who I understand to be friends or acquaintances of Robert have either managed to vanish or, having been located and asked to come, have not taken the trouble to come.

"It is disappointing to see that they have such little regard for the circumstances surrounding his death."

Mr Armstrong expressed his sympathy to Mr and Mrs Bates before adjourning the inquest to a date yet to be arranged.

Robert, an Army cadet and former pupil at Blyth's Ridley High School, was an apprentice mechanic at Jennings of Morpeth. He was able to buy his Ford Fiesta with the aid of birthday and Christmas money from members of his family.

Tragedy struck on June 24 last year in a high-speed car smash in Wensleydale Terrace, Blyth, which demolished a bus shelter.

Firefighters used cutting equipment to get Robert out of the wrecked car but he is believed to have been killed instantly.

His father, a firefighter himself, paid his son a moving tribute after the accident.

He said: "All I really want to say is that he was a lovely lad. He was pleased to have passed his driving test and he was pleased to have his car, although he didn't have much money."